4-6-2023 (WASHINGTON) A Chinese Navy ship conducted a maneuver deemed “unsafe” in close proximity to an American destroyer during its transit of the Taiwan Strait, the US military announced on Saturday (Jun 3).
This incident marks the second encounter between American and Chinese military assets within a span of less than 10 days, following what the US military described as an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” by a Chinese fighter jet near a US surveillance plane last week.
The US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) stated that the Chinese ship exhibited unsafe maneuvers near the American destroyer Chung-Hoon during the Saturday transit.
The Chinese vessel “overtook Chung-Hoon on their port side and crossed their bow at 150 yards. Chung-Hoon maintained course and slowed to 10 knots to avoid a collision,” the statement explained.
It further noted that the Chinese ship then crossed Chung-Hoon’s bow for a second time, this time from starboard to port at a distance of 2,000 yards, eventually remaining off Chung-Hoon’s port bow and coming within 150 yards at its closest point. The US military emphasized that it operates in accordance with international law, stating, “The US military flies, sails, and operates safely and responsibly anywhere international law allows.”
This incident occurred as the Chung-Hoon, accompanied by a Canadian warship, sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a joint mission. The waterway is strategically significant as it separates Taiwan, a self-governing territory, from mainland China.
While the Chinese military confirmed that it monitored the passage, it made no mention of any close encounter.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for China’s Eastern Theatre Command, criticized the involvement of the relevant countries, accusing them of intentionally creating trouble in the Taiwan Strait and jeopardizing regional peace and stability.
US warships routinely traverse the strait, with the last joint US-Canada passage occurring in September 2022.
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has increased military and political pressure on the island in recent years, vowing to take control of it, even by force if necessary.
The encounter between ships in the Taiwan Strait follows another incident in which the US military characterized a Chinese jet’s flight path as risky. On May 26, the Chinese aircraft allegedly flew directly in front of and within 400 feet of the nose of a US RC-135 surveillance plane in the South China Sea.
China attributed the tensions to US “provocation,” with a foreign ministry spokesperson stating that the US’ persistent and frequent surveillance activities in close proximity to China undermine the country’s national sovereignty and security.
